Book 4/Chapter 20 Ordained by God (section 4) 1. What is Calvin’s first argument that the office of magistrate is ordained by God? 2. What enables kings to reign in justice? 3. What different kinds of rule are ordained by God? So-called Christian perfection (section 5) 1. How does Calvin answer those who say that …
No Leverage for Sin
In the message today, we will be considering ways to prepare yourselves spiritually for your Christmas celebrations. That message will be addressing those who earnestly want to be a blessing to others, and who are grieved when they stumble in various ways. So I thought that it would be good to address just a few …
Justice, Mercy and Humility
Because God is the author of sacraments, He is the one who governs and regulates them. In some matters, He doesn’t care how we set the Table—He doesn’t mandate a white tablecloth, for example, or silver trays for distribution. He requires that what we do in this regard is filled with reverence and godly awe, …
This Rebellious House
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Our Father and God, we pray to You now from the …
Holy Ghost Industrial Grade Sandpaper
I have been writing on distance learning, and how, while it provides some important things, like information, it is utterly incapable of providing other things, like how to deal with people. In a learning community, in a school or college, your fellow students are people, your teachers are people, the administration is made up of …
Governments for Body and Soul
Book 4/Chapter 20 Civil government (section 1) 1. What sort of two-fold government is man under? 2. What two elements are found in the government of the body? 3. What two errors are common with regard to this question? Different, not antithetical (section 2) 1. As long as we live among men, what five things …
A Tad More on Atheism
The “On Faith” page of The Washington Post has published a short commentary from me on the new atheism. Here.
Ceremonies That Declare the Promise
Book 4/Chapter 19 No word for the grease (section 31) 1. What does Augustine say happens when the word is withdrawn from the water? 2. What does this do to the Romanists’ anointing oil? 3. What kind of ingenious religion are they attempting to create? Duties of deacons (section 32) 1. What is Calvin’s central …
History of the Tonsure
Book 4/Chapter 19 History of the tonsure (section 27) 1. What was the origin of the tonsure? All of us priests (section 28) 1. Does Calvin affirm the priesthood of all believers here? 2. Why is ordination not a sacrament? Ceremony of ordination (section 29) 1. Why does Calvin not accept the appeal to the …
Getting Dressed for Christmas
INTRODUCTION: Holidays are frequently times when people get trapped by the expectations game. Because everyone around you assumes that the day is going to be “really good,” “special,” or “fantastic,” and is constantly telling you to have a “merry” one, it is easy to assume that having a merry Christmas is an actual possession of …